A/N: Happy Holloween, Dudes and Dudettes! Let's celebrate with another chapter, yeah?

tentenbaby - :D

Sciencegal - He'll get there eventually. Has lots of bonding to do along the way, too. ;3

D - Very good sign. And thanks. That was only half-planned if I'm to be honest. Most of it sort've...fell into place. This is what happens when your characters decide things for you. LOL.

CHAPTER 14: ALLUM

Sirens drowned out Donald's scream as the lights inside Hall F flashed red, and Leonardo tensed when unanimous buzzing vibrated his bones. The cell doors shook violently. Then, they slid open.

Was this actually happening?

Remember that hope, Leonardo? It lasted a fraction of a second, but you felt it. Despite everything, it resurfaced. So why did you forsake it so quickly?

Leo watched the men and women clamor towards the exit. They trampled Donald in their haste, and some were beaten sideways by Melody's robotic arms. Her efforts seemed half-hearted, although Leo could've been mistaken. The cyborg continued to deter any who dared pass. Broken bones must've followed, yet the escapees collected in a swarm, each one trying again and again.

Like a dream, right? Humans could not be that barbaric. You protected them because you saw good in them. Those people, though? They were terrified. Had you spoken to them with the same passion as you did in the beginning—the kind that comforted kids and inspired your brothers—they would have put faith in you. Like Kaiya.

Leo glanced down, where Kaiya peered up with golden eyes. She squeezed his hand and attempted to pull him over his cell's threshold. No. She shouldn't be there. She shouldn't be with him. He retracted his hand, allowing her to fall backward.

"M—Mister Leonardo?" she asked.

The mutant didn't face her. He watched Donald limp off the ground, bruised, bloody, and panting. Although the brunette's side-bent hand was kept tight against his ribs, he pushed forward like a soldier at war. Like Raphael.

You knew better. Yet how could you stop the connections? Joseph with Donny. Kaiya with Mikey. Donald with Raph. Your heart ached to have your brothers beside you, in any way possible. And fear left you numb whenever you would ask yourself "Are they searching for me? Do they really want me back?" Your reassurance when everyone in Hall F still lived, were those words for the others? Or you?

The mob pushed harder. A fraction splintered off to attack Lombardo while a majority joined their strengths against Melody. The number proved an advantage. The cyborg faltered until her comrades flanked her, and a stout, Indian man bypassed the chaos altogether.

He stopped before Donald, a smile spreading through his bushy beard. "Are you the instigator of this little revolt?" he asked.

The gangster leered. "Who the hell are you?"

"I'm Doctor Stephens. And I'm afraid you've disrupted the order of Halls F, G, H, I, and J."

Five halls? Was that why there were so many people? And still more coming?

"Guess it's a party!" Donald yelled. "Stay outta our way, Old Timer; we're leavin' this joint."

"Ah, well, not entirely."

Would you have made a difference? Could you have, had you fought? You may have saved Donald, at least. And Kaiya…

The Jonin's attention found a ring of escapees that had formed around Donald and Stephens. They shoved one another to avoid the doctor when he neared them like a kid playing tag, and Lombardo's voice paled when compared to their cries.

Amongst them, Kaiya avoided Donald's corpse. Her eyes were wide, her frame shaking so badly that she struggled to walk. The scent of decay worsened the faster the poison ate the brunette's flesh, and the sight drove the girl towards the panicked crowd.

What should he do? Should he stop her? He always failed when he tried. Was the risk worth it? The mutant stepped forward only to find the blonde lost in a sea of white jumpsuits. Judging by the violent shoving…

Well, he wasn't a worthy savior anyway.

Had you thought that with conviction? Or was it a lie you told yourself? You believed it then, regardless. What about now? Do you still cling to failure and dread? Do you think you will never feel whole again? Have humans robbed you of the prime trait that appointed you Jonin of the Hamato Clan?

Paige was filled with terror. Leo could sense it, but he didn't share it. He shared nothing with these people. Everything familiar had died, right at his fingertips. Even Donald.

The mutant glanced up and down Hall F. It was silent like the void of outer space—a stark contrast to the anarchy that remained. Stephens claimed more victims. The cyborgs struggled for control. The mob beat one another. Lombardo gimped to safety. Yet none of it bothered Leo. It simply…was.

"F is for 'failure!'"

Imagine that; Donald knew the truth. And Leo could only laugh.

Leonardo focused on the night sky with stinging eyes. 'What the hell was that?' he thought, gasping.

His limbs felt prickly and weighted, and his straw mat dug into his skin as he army crawled towards the Library window. He hooked an arm over the wooden sill then pulled himself up, breathing in a warm breeze.

'I—' He sniffled. 'Was I awake or asleep? Meditating? I—I don't remember. It seemed like a dream, but…'

It had felt as if he relived the past in a split moment. The emotions lingered—a dangerous cocktail that left the mutant hazy and near tears. He trembled, beating the sill, and looked beyond K'ekchi Village's walls.

What was that in the Rainforest? Something that glided and glowed? Fireflies? Butterflies? No, they were much larger. Leo shook his head. When he reopened his eyes, the lights were gone.

Shit. Was he suffering another psychotic break? Like with the boar? The mutant swallowed, although his mouth was dry. No; he couldn't risk an episode. Not in the village. But where else could he go?

One place came to mind.

Coyolxauhqui listened to the ocean waves below Huelihca's suspended roots, their rhythm constant and soothing against the cliffside. 'Teachcauh wishes I would visit Nenetl after such dreams,' she thought, 'but this is all the therapy I need. I will not saturate my mind with herbs, not like Tatli and Colli.'

In the end, her father and grandfather were not saved. Why would Coyo be any different?

The young woman sighed then jerked her head sideways when a crack sounded. "L—Leo?" she asked into the near-darkness.

The turtle-man hesitated along the cliffside, voice shaky. "Coyo? Yo—you're out here?"

"Leo okay?" Coyo added in English. She stood then climbed over the roots towards Leonardo. He stepped back when she tugged at his hand, but not before she noticed the sheen of sweat that left his skin slick. "Ca—can Coyo help? Leo in pain? Need Tetani?"

"No. It's nothing."

Coyo frowned. Her stance was balanced between two roots, but she felt confident enough to reach for the turtle-man again.

"Coyo," Leo started, pulling away, "stop."

"Is okay." The woman caught his hand a third time and refused to let go. "Maxitia. Sit. Better with friend, yes?"

The turtle-man didn't ask for clarification. Thank Ometeotl; the Chieftain doubted her English was fluent enough to explain what she meant. She guided Leo to Huelihca's trunk then sat down by him, despite his reluctance.

"Coyo tell Leo Huelihca is peace," Coyo said. "Leo believe Coyo. Leo come, for comfort. Dream bad things?"

The turtle-man scoffed. Why? Was there a weakness in seeking sanctuary? Or did he find it embarrassing to share a safe spot with a native? After so many suns, how could he remain so guarded? Did he require further proof of trust?

Yes, maybe that was it.

"Coyo dream bad," Coyo said just above a whisper. She inhaled the salt air then added, "Dream of parents. They…they dead, but Huelihca make Coyo feel imihio, their spirits. Can Leo feel imihio?"

The woman closed her eyes, focusing on the wind. It carried with it something profound: a fleeting embrace, a hand rustling her hair. But maybe she imagined it all. Sighing, she opened her eyes and grinned as fluttering sounds carried over the rushing waves.

"Wh—what are those?" asked Leonardo.

Coyo looked up. Countless white lights lit the sky with their willowy trails, streaking over the halved-moon and clouds like comets. 'Marvelous,' the young woman thought. 'This year, they are brighter.'

"Coyo?" continued Leo. "You see them, right?"

"Quema. Scared?"

"No, for a moment I thought—" The turtle-man stopped short with wide eyes. "I had seen a few before, but they didn't seem real."

"They real."

"What are they, though? Bugs? They're the size of Klunk."

"What is 'Klah-ck?'"

"No one. Never mind."

Coyo hummed, sending Leo a sidelong glance, "Coyo tell Leo if Leo tell Coyo one thing about Leo."

The turtle-man straightened on Huelihca's roots and scratched his neck. He sniffled then asked, "Just one thing?"

"Anything he want."

"What I want?"

Coyo cocked her head. "What Leo want funny?"

"No. Not really. It's just that—" Leo shook his head as if to rid himself of his faint grin. "I'm not often asked what I want."

"Coyo too." The turtle-man looked at the woman but just as soon returned to watching the sky. "They Allum," she continued. "Leo see wings? Like waves of ocean top? Chicuey, eight."

"Eight?"

"Other tribes say Allum 'ghosts', legends, old stories. In Dry Season, Allum free to mate, dance all night, connected, one. When sun rises, lay eggs then die. That is cycle."

"An—and who frees them? Are they even from Earth?"

Coyo shook her head; the question was not one she could answer—not until the turtle-man trusted her more or she was granted permission by the Teonehnemi. She smiled, and Leo understood, sighing.

"Alright," he said. "What do you want to know?"

"Coyo want to know what Leo wishes Coyo to know."

Was the concept complicated? Did Coyo use the wrong English? Because Leo seemed at a loss.

"I—I did have a nightmare," he admitted. He kept his gaze on the Allum. "Or something like one. Coming here just seemed natural and…I can't explain why."

"Huelihca is magic." Grinning, Coyo ran her feet along the tree roots, their rough texture messaging her callous skin. "Coyo come with music. Make everything better."

"Music?" Leonardo watched as the woman pulled out her Ocarina from a pocket in her long breechcloth. His large mouth formed a smile. This time, he neither fought it nor shook it away. "There's a folk song my father sang when I was a child," he continued. "It's called 'Sakura, Sakura.' It always made me feel stronger."

"Oh!" Coyolxauhqui turned sideways then squeezed Leo's bicep. "Co—Coyo learn?"

"I, uh—"

"Nimitztla tlauhtia! Coyo and Leo play at Xochicuicatl."

"Flower Song? Huitzi didn't seem convinced I should go."

"Is what Leo want?"

"I…" Leo froze under the Chieftain's stare. Was it a trick played by the Allum's light, or did the turtle-man's cheeks darken?

"Coyo want Leo to see Xochicuicatl," added Coyo. "Xochicuicatl important, special. Co—We make Xochicuicatl more special with Leo's song. Yes?"

"I get the feeling you won't let this rest even if I said no."

"Let what rest?"

"Fine."

"Tlen?"

"I'll teach you." Leo met Coyo with steeled eyes and a half-grin. "I could use the distraction, anyway."

"Tlazocamati!" cheered Coyo, bouncing.

"Yo—you're welcome. Now could you please…back up?"

Coyolxauhqui blinked. She had no idea when, but at some point, she had pressed herself against the turtle-man. She withdrew from his face and scooted along her root seat until she could no longer feel the smooth bone of his front shell. Doing so left her a little colder.

"I—I'll teach you the tune," said Leo. "The lyrics are Japanese, so it may be difficult for you to sing."

"Leo sing then, yes?"

"Um, sure. Why not? It starts like this…"

A/N: Leo's making friiiieeeennnndddssss. So happy for him. You? :D

Maxitia (Mah - sheet - ee - ah) = To come closer
Huelihca (Weh – leeh – kah)
Imihio (Ime - he - oh)
Chicuey (Chee - quee)
Teonehnemi (Teh - oh - neh - neh - mee)
Nimitztla Tlauhtia (Nee - meetz - tla Tlaw - ti - ah) = Please
Xochicuicatl (Show - chee - kwee - cal)
Tlen (Tleh - nn) = What?
Tlazocamati (Tlah - so - cah - mah - tee) = Thank You